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Report: Maple Leafs have circled back on Rasmus Andersson
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Michael Mazzei
Dec 18, 2025, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 17, 2025, 10:00 EST
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TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs have circled back on Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson.
During Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading, LeBrun noted that interest in Andersson has picked up in the wake of the Quinn Hughes trade due to the lack of top-four defencemen that will likely be available at the trade deadline. What could dictate whether or not a trade materializes is whether the Flames want to move him as a rental or to a team Andersson would sign with.
“Among the teams that have circled back on Rasmus Andersson is the Toronto Maple Leafs. We know the Leafs tried to trade for Andersson last year at the deadline,” LeBrun reported. “And why I mention Toronto is that my understanding is the Leafs would be one of those teams that Andersson perhaps would consider extending with, if, in fact, a trade could be worked out between those two teams.”
LeBrun’s report is the latest connecting the Leafs to Andersson, as The Leafs Nation’s Jay Rosehill reported during an episode of Leafs Morning Take on November 13th that they were working hard to try and acquire Andersson’s services. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman corroborated the report, adding that the Leafs made a push during the 2025 Trade Deadline to acquire Andersson but a trade never came to fruition. They ultimately were able to nab Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins for a package that included Fraser Minten and a first-round pick.
It makes sense why the Leafs would be interested in Andersson, beginning with the fact that general manager Brad Treliving knows well what the defenceman can provide. After all, he was the GM of the Flames when Andersson was selected 53rd overall in 2015. He also fits the profile of the type of blueliner that the team would be looking to add: a puck-mover with the ability to chip in offensively. Andersson aligns with the window that the Leafs view themselves in as he is 29-years-old, and it certainly helps that he is a right-shot defenceman.
He has been one of the lone bright spots on a struggling Flames team as he has amassed 22 points (seven goals and 15 assists) in 33 games, good enough for second in the club in scoring behind only Nazem Kadri. Andersson will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and his future in Calgary remains murky, hence why he is mired in trade rumours.
The fact that he would reportedly be willing to extend with them if a trade comes to fruition should give the Leafs confidence to keep up the pursuit. Andersson won’t come cheap, especially if it is viewed as a potential sign-and-trade deal. It would likely have to involve a high draft pick, a prospect, and perhaps a player on the roster.
It really boils down to whether or not the two teams are able to come together for a trade, as none have occurred in the time since Treliving has been hired as GM. There have been plenty of rumours connecting the two teams, including Kadri, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and Jacob Markstrom, but it remains to be seen if it will indeed occur this time.
Nonetheless, the connection between Andersson and the Leafs refuses to go away, and it is a situation worth keeping an eye on.

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